Gardening Basics: Identifying Weeds in Your Garden

Not sure how to tell the good from the bad when identifying weeds in your garden? We'll help you figure out whether you should pull it up or let it grow.

By Melinda Myers

“Is this a weed or a flower?”

I’ve been in the gardening and horticulture business for more than three decades, and it’s still one of the most common questions I get year after year. In fact, gardeners probably bring me a few hundred “gifts” each spring in the form of mystery leaves, flowers and plants.

The truth is, we’ve all faced the dilemma of identifying weeds in your garden at some point. When plants start sprouting in spring, all those tiny leaves seem to look the same. I don’t know any gardener (myself included) who hasn’t grown a few weeds or accidentally weeded out a few desirable plants.

So I’m here to help. Hopefully I can at least point you in the right direction when it comes to recognizing common backyard weeds. That will let you focus on your treasured garden plants instead.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common weeds in North America. If you can learn to recognize these, you’ll be well on your way toward eliminating most of the unwelcome visitors in your yard.

Teasel

Teasel comes to mind right away. This thistle look-alike, brought to North America in the 1700s for processing wool, has spread into natural spaces. Its prickly stems and leaves make it undesirable to both wildlife and agriculture, so if you find it in your backyard, you’ll want to eliminate it.

Wildlife GMBH/Alamy

Buckthorn

Buckthorn, garlic mustard and purple loosestrife were once prized landscape plants, but they now crowd out native plants and disrupt natural ecosystems. It’s definitely worth your time and energy to try to get rid of them. Their presence reduces food sources and habitat for native birds, butterflies, beneficial insects and wildlife.

David Cavagnaro

Quack grass

Quack grass is something most gardeners will encounter. It’s easy to identify by the long, white underground rhizomes that look like roots. Any piece of the rhizome that touches the ground can start a new plant. You must be thorough and persistent if you try to remove quack grass by hand.

Missouri Botanical Garden

Crabgrass

Crabgrass has a smaller, more fibrous root system. It thrives in hot, dry weather, making its presence known in mid- to late summer. You’ll find it growing in gardens, short-cropped lawns and places subject to hot, dry conditions. Mow lawns high to help lawn grass shade out the crabgrass. In the garden, you should pull crabgrass before the plants set seed, and mulch to help prevent seeds from sprouting.

Nutsedge

Nutsedge (also called nutgrass) is another common problem. The grasslike plants form ­underground tubers called nutlets. Persistence, early intervention and an integrated management strategy are critical for control of these weeds.

Elena Elisseeva/Shutterstock.com

Ragweed

Ragweed is a plant that hay fever sufferers will particularly want to watch out for. You can usually find this pesky weed hiding behind its colorful neighbor, goldenrod. Be sure to mow it down or pull it before it has a chance to release its allergenic pollen.

ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/TACOJIM

Garlic mustard

Garlic mustard was brought here for medicinal purposes and food, but it has become one of the worst forest invaders. A relative of mustard, this biennial plant produces thousands of seeds that can stay in the soil for seven years or more. Pull and properly dispose of plants just before they flower.

Turner Photographics

Creeping Charlie (ground ivy)

Creeping Charlie (ground ivy) is another one I get questions about. It’s easy to identify by its round, scalloped leaves, which are fragrant when crushed. This shade-tolerant plant with purple spring flowers can quickly take over a lawn or garden bed. To get rid of it in the lawn, try a chelated iron-based weedkiller. In the garden, pull it out and mulch or use a total vegetation killer.

Dame’s rocket

Dame’s rocket is a trickier weed, because it’s often misidentified as woodland phlox, and it looks so pretty blooming on woodland edges in spring. Unfortunately, this nonnative weed is often included in wildflower mixes, and it quickly crowds out more desirable native plants. Look for the four-petaled flowers that distinguish this from the five-petaled flowers of phlox—and then get rid of it.

Turner Photographics

Thistle

Thistle is another tricky one. Birds and butterflies love it, but gardeners and farmers hate it. Many thistles are listed as noxious weeds; they can quickly infiltrate and take over the garden. To control the spread, try removing them before they flower and set seed.

Turner Photographics

Field bindweed

Field bindweed is one of the hardest weeds to get under control. It has flowers like a morning glory, and a deep root system, which makes it drought-tolerant and difficult to eliminate. Your best bet is to keep pulling the weeds as early as possible. Mulching will help prevent seeds from sprouting.

Turner Photographics

Poison ivy

Poison ivy is the ultimate weed to avoid. “Leaves of three, let it be”
is old but wise advice. All parts of poison ivy can cause an allergic reaction. You may stumble on it during a hike or find it creeping along the ground or crawling up a tree. Wear protective clothing and wash thoroughly after touching.

Turner Photographics

5 weeds to reconsider

Though you may still want to manage them in the landscape, you might find that these plants, typically considered weeds, actually have value.

Clover
Many lawn enthusiasts consider it a weed, but it’s an important source of nectar for bees and a tasty treat for wildlife. Some people grow clover lawns as a more eco-friendly alternative to traditional grass.

Common purslane
This summer annual, which thrives in hot, dry conditions, is a tasty substitute for spinach. Pull it before it sets seed to keep it under control, but throw a little on your salad, too.

Lamb’s-quarters
It’s moving off many weed lists and onto gourmet restaurant menus. But do a little reading before you eat: Too much can make you sick.

Chickweed
This is another one that can quickly take over a garden, but it adds zing to a salad or sandwich.

Dandelions
They aren’t as bad as people think. Birds eat the seeds, and the leaves have long been used in early-spring salads because they’re rich in vitamin C.

Walters Gardens Inc.

Weeds you want

They might have “weed” in their name, but don’t be fooled. You actually want these garden favorites in your backyard.

My mom was a avid gardener who could grow anything…..and she told me that you can distinguish a weed by the red at the bottom of the tiny stem when it shows the first leaves. Works for me here in Oklahoma. She also said to plant flower seed in bunches instead of rows….makes it easier to spot when the first come up…..makes transplanting a cinch too.

The article on the weeds is informative but it would be nice if you would show the entire plant in a natural setting (bigger picture) and also how it would look before it blooms. Thank you for the information.

You never mentioned “Smilac” which I have been fighting for 3 years. It has a heart shaped leaf and a spiny stalk, that if left long enough get black thorns, I wear two pair of leather gloves to pull it. Then I found out it has rhizomes that spread under ground. This fall I am trying florists vials, the ones for single flowers, filled with round-up and will put the cut stem in and florist tape it in place. Hopefully this will kill it and contain the round-up with the vial stuck in the soil.

now that you mentioned the weeds what is the best way to get rid of them once you i.d. them. like whatweed killer is best for killing one or all of them. I live on a 9 acre farm but we have about 4 acres to take care of as it is mostly grass(?) and I live in Wisconsin
thanks